August 06th, 2014

August 6th 
Day 1 - Rome

Ciao Bella!

Well, here we are in romantic Roma!  I promised I’d blog in detail about our daily events and so here goes!!
Having arrived at our Private Rental apartment right near Piazza Novona a little while ago - 8:00AM local time, I feel like I’m living a fantasy!

AT JFK - ITALY BOUND

It is breathtaking! And what was more surreal is that I told myself a number of years back, that I would take a long, summer family trip to Italy the summer of 2014…and here it is coming to fruition!! It really is true that the difference between a fantasy and a plan is that plans have deadlines! 

So, here is a synopsis of our day leading up to our arrival here in Rome: 
We arrived at Kennedy Airport yesterday (Tuesday) at around 1:30pm EST.  Going through Security was uneventful except for the TSA woman who was throwing Tedd’s stuff around because she wanted certain things in separate bins while going through the x-ray machines. That pissed him off!

WAITING TO BOARD

Flying First Class, we had access to the Alitalia lounge, which was nice to hang out in while waiting to board our 4pm flight.  We were told that boarding would begin at 3pm, so we were at the gate around 3:10.

Unfortunately, the flight did not board till close to 4pm, when we were supposed to be taking off!  I’m usually not difficult about these things, but there were no announcements about a delay and the kids were standing waiting (very patiently, I might add) all this time. Anyway, we boarded finally at 3:55 and we didn’t actually take off until after 5.

TOILETRY BAG FROM ALITALIA

The flight attendants - a Rome-based crew -  were all very nice and accommodating.  I was snapping away before take-off and of course, I was texting till the last possible moment with both Tanya and Danielle - sending pictures, chatting, saying goodbye. 
 
After we were settled in our seats, the crew gave out the cutest “Salvatore Ferragamo" toiletry bags, which contained the usual goodies for inflight comfort. Love getting freebies! (Although for what we paid in airfare, this was certainly not free!)

AMAZING DESSERTS ON THE PLANE

ME CATCHING A FEW WINKS

POOR KELSEY COULDN'T SLEEP

I managed to sleep a few hours during the flight, after a delightful meal and way too much dessert. Unfortunately, Kelsey was really unable to sleep, so she played continuously on her IPAD. 

Then….we made our approach into Leonardo da Vinci Airport!! What a view!!! 

AERIAL VIEW FROM PLANE LANDING IN ROME

The sound of the Italian language gave me such a warm feeling inside.  I always wished I could have made a trip like this with my Grandma Rose. Coming here in the 1920’s from Saracena, Calabria at the age of 7 must have been a very scary thing - leaving her entire extended family - just her and her mom traveling by ship to meet her father, who she had never known! (He left Italy for America before she was born)  She never made it back in her 87 years, but as I stand here in the homeland, I can’t help but feel her with us smiling!

JUST LANDED - YAY!!

MOM TEXTING AWAY WAITING FOR OUR LUGGAGE

Today, we had a mellow day.  First, an early lunch at Ciampini, a few blocks away, which was highly recommended by our apartment hostess, Alessandra. On the way back, we did some marketing in the local shops for some dinner items and bakery goods for tomorrow's breakfast. 
  

IN LOCAL STORE

BUYING GOODIES!

Well, I need some rest -- See you back here in Roma tomorrow, same time!!

-E

Day 1 - NYC

Hellooooooo New York (again)!

Here I am working from the car as we drive into the city! Ahhh the joys and amazement of working remotely :)

Initially as our triparoo began last night, it started off a bit amiss, the van picking us up went to the wrong address, and our flight got delayed by 2 hours & 15 minutes. Sheesh!

Once we got to the airport we found out that the flight was now delayed until 3am!!! :-(

I immediately requested to be put on stand-by for a flight that was FULL and even earlier than our original flight and as luck would have it we got on at the very last minute!!! WooHoo

Yay! We got on stand-by!

During the flight, Dave appeared to sleep pretty well & I surprisingly actually slept very lightly...it was a mix of making the wrong choice for dinner (stomachache the entire flight), and the person behind me KICKING the back of my seat and waking me up! WTH...Ugh 

After the red-eye!

But we're here now, and feeling very fortunate that we made it (instead of still waiting at LAX). My tumtum is feeling better now that I'm moving about and we are heading to breakfast.

Refreshed and ready to GO!

I've already had a chance to text with Elisa! And we're both so excited about me going to see 'A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder'!! Read Elisa's review here!

She told me that she's already taken bunches if pictures!!! 
I LOVE Italy so much! I can't wait to see her pics!

Continuing onward to London later tonight!

Well, I'm off...

Next greeting will be from the UK!

-T

PS - special note to Elisa - see the blouse I'm wearing? :)